Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon

Seriously, such a pretty-looking card. And Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon is pretty darn good, too! Of course, he’s really only going to be used in certain decks that can also use The Phantom Knights’ Rank-Up-Magic Launch, which is practically the spell card it was created for. So this means either Phantom Knight decks of any iteration, or some kind of general dark deck that has good XYZ capability.

In Phantom Knight decks, though, you probably wouldn’t use the Rank-Up-Magic Launch unless you could also fairly easily summon Dark Rebellion. You don’t want to rely on having Instant Fusion and Launch in your hand at the same time to use it. Break Sword can eventually become a rank 4, but he would have to have no materials to be a legitimate target. So more likely than not, Dark Requiem and Launch would be found in a different dark deck. But once you do have a good deck that can throw in Launch, this is a really good monster, and because Launch is a quickplay, there’s even more potential plusses to be had.

When I rate this card, really I’m rating Launch, since it’s the only legitimate method to summon him. You’re surely not going to summon him using 3 level-5 monsters… he’d just be a vanilla. And the spell card is pretty decent, with good potential in the future since it can target any dark XYZ and go one higher. I see a future for Dark Requiem, and it’s a good one.

Advanced: 3.5/5

Future Potential: 3.5/5

Let's start with the good. Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon is a Rank 5 Dark Dragon-type XYZ Monster with 3000 Atk and 2500 Def. It requires 3 Level 5 monsters which is steep, but not impossible. However, this monster only gains effects if Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon is a material on this monster. Otherwise it's just a big dragon. Big dragon's are cool, but since this doesn't have an easy XYZ Summon from Rebellion Dragon, it is just not going to see as much play as say Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon. 
 
The effects of Dark Requiem XYZ Dragon are good. It pumps itself up by an amount of an opponent's lost Atk. That effect targets, costs a material, and can only be activated once per turn. In theory, this one effect can equal game over for the opponent if the monster targeted has 5000 or more original attack points. Creature Swap a Five Headed Dragon? Unlikely, but possible. The second effect is even better because it can be activated during either player's turn. It costs a material to not target and destroy a monster that's activating an effect from anywhere. If successful, you get to summon an XYZ Monster from the grave. Again, the caveat to these great effects is that the pre-monster must be material on this better monster. I know some RUM spells can make this easier to summon, but that's about 4 cards that need to get this one monster. There are easier monsters to summon. 
 
Score: 2/5
Art: 2/5 Too Busy
 
-WarlockBlitz